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2014 U.S. Open: Storylines, Preview, and Betting Odds

The 114thU.S. Open Championship is upon us and everyone in the industry is jubilant about the prospects of one of golf’s biggest spectacles. With the Red Shirt still out of commission, doing more putting on video game systems than golf courses; and the sport still thirsty for its next transcendent star, many compelling storylines are ready to explode onto print, broadcast, and social media outlets. Will Bubba Watson add the U.S. Open title to his trophy case? Will Lefty shake off his SEC distractions and realize a career grand slam? Is Rors equipped to craft headlines about his clubs rather than a certain tennis star? You get the picture. But storylines aside, who let’s take a look at the favorites:

(all odds via Bovada):

Favorites

Rory McIlroy: 8-1

Adam Scott: 11-1

Phil Mickelson: 14-1

Contenders

Bubba Watson: 20-1

Jordan Spieth: 20-1

Justin Rose: 22-1

Matt Kuchar: 22-1

Henrik Stenson: 25-1

Jason Day: 25-1

Sergio Garcia: 25-1

Who Are You Picking?

I would probably go with McIlroy to capture the U.S. Open crown. I hate to agree with the Wise Guys of Vegas, but it seems that the writing is on the wall. McIlroy is beginning to play his best golf of the season and the long course architecture of Pinehurst is complementary to Ror’s preferences. He won the BMW PGA Championship at Wentworth a few weeks ago and led by three shots after a first-round 63 at the Memorial. Throw out the atrocious 78 second round and McIlroy probably wins the event by a couple of strokes.

The top sleeper here for me is Jordan Spieth. The 20-year-old appears primed to let his drivers make an imprint on the sport. Spieth has come within arm’s reach of tasting victory at huge events this year such as the Masters and Players Championship. Vegas sees value in Spieth’s play on the tour this year and have him down as 20-1, which is tied for fourth best odds to win. Some critics of his game think he struggles in driving distance and that he should not be as favored as much as he is. The naysayers do have a point since Jordan has spent most of the year ranked in the 100ths in driving distance and finished finished 80th on the Tour in 2013. But driving distance doesn’t measure determination and the willingness to be great. Spieth has the grit to overcome this weakness and has proved that this year on some of golf’s biggest stage.

Who will you pick? Will you go with the Tour’s hot clubs or will you follow the great storylines associated with the U.S. Open? Let’s tee off.